Fuel tank units

Abstract

A fuel tank unit includes a lid member configured to close an opening formed on a fuel tank. The fuel tank also includes an upper unit attached to the lid member and including a combination valve device configured to be introduced into the fuel tank via the opening formed on the fuel tank and configured to function as an evaporated fuel control valve and a full limit valve. The lid member includes a cylindrical protective case configured to protect the combination valve device of the upper unit when the combination valve device is introduced into the fuel tank via the opening. The protective case is configured to entirely enclose an outer circumferential surface of the combination valve device with a space therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuel tank unit, comprising:
 a lid member configured to close an opening of a fuel tank; and 
 an upper unit coupled to the lid member, wherein the upper unit includes a combination valve device configured to be introduced into the fuel tank via the opening of the fuel tank and configured to function as an evaporated fuel control valve and a full limit valve, 
 wherein the lid member includes a cylindrical protective case configured to protect the combination valve device of the upper unit when the combination valve device is introduced into the fuel tank via the opening, and 
 wherein the protective case has a lower open end and is configured to entirely enclose an outer circumferential surface of the combination valve device with a space therebetween while in fluid communication with the fuel tank via the lower open end of the protective case and the space between the protective case and the combination valve device. 
 
     
     
       2. The fuel tank unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower unit positioned below the upper unit and including one or more fuel-feeding components,
 wherein the lower unit is connected to the protective case with a connecting member, and 
 wherein the protective case includes rail portions coupled to the connecting member. 
 
     
     
       3. The fuel tank unit of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical protective case is vertically divided so as to comprise of an upper protective case element and a lower protective case element,
 wherein the upper protective case element is integrally connected to the lid member, 
 wherein the upper protective case element and the lower protective case element are coupled together with a snap-fit connecting structure, and 
 wherein the rail portions are disposed on the lower protective case element. 
 
     
     
       4. The fuel tank unit of  claim 3 , wherein the upper protective case element is coupled to the lower protective case element by mating engagement, and
 wherein the lower protective case element is positioned outside of the upper protective case element. 
 
     
     
       5. The fuel tank unit of  claim 2 , wherein the protective case is positioned on an attachment surface of the connecting member opposite to an attachment surface of the connecting member to which the lower unit is attached.